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Residents Get 'Taste' of Village During Annual Fundraiser

Event offers locals a taste of village eateries while raising money for local charities.

It would be impossible to fit Rockville Centre in one room, but the RVC St. Patrick’s Parade Committee tried to do just that at Friday night’s “Taste of Rockville Centre” event at the Parish Center.

Thirty one restaurants and ten vineyards offered food and wine samplings to the gathered masses, each who donated $35 to partake in the eclectic evening. All proceeds for the night went to the Association for Children with Down Syndrome (ACDS), Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities (ECAD) and the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island.

The St. Patrick’s Day Committee, now in its sixteenth campaign, donates to three different charities each year. To date, they have raised more than $676,000, according to organizers.   

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With that strong charitable presence and an average attendance of more than 500 people, organizers have found that local restaurants are extremely willing to donate pounds of food.

“Each year it becomes easier to sign up restaurants,” Chairman Dennis Houdek said. “What I find is that the new restaurants see (the attendance) and (see) potential customers. They’re very willing to participate.”

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One of those new restaurants looking to get their name out while contributing to the cause was .

The family owned restaurant, located on North Park Avenue, specializes in Greek-American cuisine. Although the restaurant opened in October, the event acted as a platform to spread their brand.

“We decided to come to Rockville Centre because of the magnetism of the town,” Maria Fotedis said. “So far, we feel we are very lucky (to be here). It’s been going well.”

The event also featured food from, , Get Baked and .

Prior to a live performance by Jerry and The Newcommers, honoree Kathleen Alcock was introduced. Alcock, a local business woman, was recently named the Grand Marshal of the 2012 St. Patrick’s Parade. She is the first women in the parade’s history to be named to that position, according to the official St. Patrick’s Parade pamphlet.

This year’s parade is scheduled for March 24.

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